Touchdown! Football-Themed Weddings

More couples are bucking tradition by paying for their weddings themselves, staging elaborate photo shoots—Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco has gotten flack for goofy photos taken at his wedding in 2011, which surfaced the web this week—and redefining what makes a wedding truly unforgettable. Now we're seeing a sharp increase in sports-themed weddings, where even the bride isn't afraid to get a little down-and-dirty with a pre-reception game of touch football.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the trend is catching on--SportsThemedWeddings.com threw about 300 sports-themed weddings last year (10 times more than in 2010). Renting an arena can start at $10,000 for 125 guests.

I must confess: I'm not the biggest football fan. Every year, one of my pals hosts a huge Super Bowl fiesta, and my idea of "watching" the game involves glancing at the tube every so often while consuming massive amounts of guacamole and catching up on the latest gossip with my girlfriends. What can I say? It's a time-honored tradition.

However, my fiancé Jason is in a whole other league. From September through February, I know better than to schedule any wedding-planning appointments on a Sunday. He's already plotting where he's going to watch the Jets play from our honeymoon in Maui and Kauai this fall. In honor of him—and all you other football lovers out there—here's how to incorporate some team spirit into your wedding day!

Check out more fun ways to surprise your groom!
Photo at left by Flirt Boudoir Photography. Photo at right by Charlotte Boudoir Photography.

Photo Credit: Etsy seller HopSkipJumpPaper.

Photo Credit: Kellogg Photography

Photo at left by Kellogg Photography. Photo at right by Jesse Daniels Photography.

Photo Credit: Corey Ann Photography

Photo Credit: Corey Ann Photography

Photo Credit: Corey Ann Photography

Photo by: KPL Photography on Southern Weddings via Lover.ly

Photo Credit: Carpenter Photography

Photo Credit: TheBlushingApple.com

Photo Credit: Mark Romine Photography

"Tebowing" became a household name when Tim Tebow, then a second-year player for the Denver Broncos, was photographed bowing in prayer in the end zone. The unique pose—getting down on one knee and holding a clenched fist to your forehead—is now so ubiquitous with fans around the world that the New York Jets QB has been awarded a trademark for the term. (Check out Tebowing.com for hilarious photos of fans "Tebowing" everywhere from college graduations to Egyptian ruins and more.)
Photo Credit: NFL.com